Major Gifts Officer
About The Position
The Major Gifts Officer plays a vital role in advancing the mission of East House by developing meaningful relationships with individuals who have the capacity and passion to make significant philanthropic investments in our organization. This position is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects. While East House defines a major gift as $5,000 and above, this role will focus primarily on building relationships that result in gifts of $10,000 and above. Working in collaboration with the President & Chief Executive Officer, Chief Advancement Officer, and Foundation Board members, the Major Gifts Officer will help grow East House's culture of philanthropy by engaging donors in our mission, strengthening existing relationships, identifying new opportunities for investment, and ensuring every donor understands the impact of their generosity. For nearly 60 years, East House has empowered individuals recovering from mental health and substance use disorders to build lives of stability, independence, and hope. Through supportive housing, employment, education, care management, peer services, and comprehensive recovery supports, we help individuals thrive while strengthening the communities we serve. Joining East House means becoming part of a compassionate and mission-driven team committed to transforming lives through recovery, opportunity, and hope. In compliance with New York State's Pay Transparency Act, the salary range for this position is listed above. East House considers factors including, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's education, experience, skills, internal equity, market conditions, and organizational needs when extending an offer. The hiring process for this position may require a criminal background check and/or motor vehicle records check. Any verbal or written offer of employment is contingent upon satisfactory results, as determined by Human Resources.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Minimum of five (5) years of progressive fundraising experience with demonstrated success in major gift fundraising.
- Proven success cultivating, soliciting, and closing five- and six-figure philanthropic gifts.
- Experience managing a major gift portfolio through the complete donor cycle, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and renewal.
- Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.
- Strong organizational, project management, and time management abilities.
- Ability to work independently while contributing as a collaborative member of the Advancement Team.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and donor relationship management software.
- Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in behavioral health, healthcare, human services, or nonprofit organizations.
- Experience with comprehensive fundraising campaigns.
- Knowledge of planned giving strategies.
- Experience using Bloomerang or similar constituent relationship management software.
Responsibilities
- Manage an active portfolio of 125 or more qualified major gift donors and prospects.
- Develop and implement individualized cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and engagement strategies for assigned donors.
- Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift donors, and partner with the Chief Advancement Officer and President & Chief Executive Officer when appropriate.
- Focus primarily on securing gifts of $10,000 and above, including annual, multi-year, campaign, and planned gifts aligned with East House's fundraising priorities.
- Conduct meaningful in-person, virtual, and stewardship meetings with donors and prospective donors.
- Prepare compelling proposals, gift agreements, impact reports, stewardship reports, and donor presentations.
- Identify, qualify, and cultivate new major gift prospects through research, referrals, networking, community engagement, and donor introductions.
- Build and maintain a healthy pipeline of current and prospective major gift donors.
- Build authentic, long-term relationships with donors and prospective donors.
- Ensure timely acknowledgment, personalized stewardship, and meaningful donor recognition.
- Communicate the impact of philanthropic investments through thoughtful and consistent stewardship.
- Inspire continued engagement and increased giving through exceptional donor experiences.
- Partner with the Chief Advancement Officer and Business Intelligence Analyst to develop and execute comprehensive donor engagement strategies that identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership and transformational gift opportunities.
- Prepare donor profiles, briefing materials, solicitation strategies, and follow-up plans for donor meetings.
- Collaborate with the Advancement team to coordinate donor communications, stewardship activities, annual giving initiatives, fundraising campaigns, and special events.
- Participate in strategic fundraising planning to support the continued growth of East House's philanthropic program.
- Maintain accurate and timely donor records within the organization's donor relationship management system.
- Document donor interactions, proposals, stewardship activities, and next steps.
- Develop annual cultivation and solicitation plans for assigned donors.
- Monitor progress toward fundraising goals and provide regular reports to the Chief Advancement Officer.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Associate degree
